The Study
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Effects of Astaxanthin on Human Skin Ageing
This is like reading a summary of many different science experiments all testing the same thing - whether a red-orange color (astaxanthin) found in salmon and shrimp can help skin look younger. Scientists combined results from 9 experiments where people took either the color supplement or a fake pill, and 2 other studies where people put the color cream on their skin. Most experiments showed skin felt more moist and elastic after taking the supplement, but the results weren't exactly the same in every study - some showed big improvements, others showed smaller ones. Scientists can't say for certain it works perfectly because there weren't many people in each study and some studies weren't designed perfectly.
Analysis score
Maximum 100 for a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Where the score came from
Scientists looked at all human studies on astaxanthin (a red pigment from algae) for skin aging. They found 9 proper experiments with pills and 2 studies with creams. The pill studies showed mixed results.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 539 / 100
Quality score
The highest quality evidence. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses that pool randomized controlled trials, giving the most reliable summary of experimental evidence.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1The moisture and elasticity improvements are real enough to be confident, but the effect on wrinkles is unclear.
- 2The studies were small and had different designs, so we can't be completely sure.
- 3Pills improved skin moisture by 53% and elasticity by 77% on average.
- 4But wrinkles did NOT get better (only 26% improvement, not enough to be sure it wasn't just chance).
- 5Only 293 people total were studied.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Nutrients
Year
2021
Authors
Xiangyu Zhou, Qingming Cao, C. Orfila, Jian Zhao, Lin Zhang
Related Content
Claims (7)
Taking astaxanthin pills (about 2-12 mg daily for 1-4 months) can help middle-aged people's skin stay more moisturized, according to research combining 5 different experiments.
A natural red pigment called astaxanthin, found in seafood, might help keep skin looking younger when applied to the skin or taken by mouth, but scientists haven't done good enough studies yet to know for sure.
Scientists looking at studies on astaxanthin for skin aging found that the research so far has problems: the results vary too much between studies, not enough people were tested, and it's hard to tell if the studies were done properly.
Taking astaxanthin supplements (a natural red pigment found in salmon and shrimp) every day for 1 to 4 months can make your skin more stretchy and elastic if you're middle-aged and noticing early signs of skin aging.
Taking astaxanthin supplements (a red-orange antioxidant pigment found in salmon and shrimp) every day for 1-4 months doesn't seem to make wrinkles noticeably shallower in middle-aged people, according to research that combined results from multiple clinical trials.
Taking astaxanthin as a supplement might help your skin hold onto moisture better - one study showed people's skin lost about half less water after taking it, but there wasn't enough research to combine those results together.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.